GUY FAWKES MYSTERIES

Remember, remember! 
The fifth of November 

Another holiday, another list! We may not celebrate Guy Fawkes Night here in the U.S., but this popular U.K. holiday is celebrated in several countries around the world and appears in many crime fiction novels.

Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night, is an annual celebration, primarily in Great Britain, traditionally and usually held on the evening of November 5.  Festivities are centered on the use of fireworks and the lighting of bonfires.

Historically, the celebrations mark the anniversary of the failed Gunpowder Plot of November 5, 1605. Guy Fawkes Night originates from the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, the failed conspiracy by a group of provincial English Catholics to assassinate the Protestant King James I of England and replace him with a Catholic head of state. The survival of the king was first celebrated on 5 November 1605, after Guy Fawkes, left in charge of the gunpowder placed underneath the House of Lords, was discovered and arrested.

Traditionally, an effigy (or "guy") representing Fawkes is ritually burnt on the bonfire. In the weeks before bonfire night, children traditionally displayed the "guy" and requested a "penny for the guy" in order to raise funds with which to buy fireworks. This practice has diminished greatly, perhaps because it has been seen as begging, and also because children are not allowed to buy fireworks. In addition there are concerns that children might misuse the money. And another reason might be that Halloween is becoming more popular and replacing Guy Fawkes Night in many British communities.

FYI:
In Britain, there are several foods that are traditionally consumed on Bonfire Night:

Bangers and mash
Black treacle goods such as bonfire toffee
Toffee apples
Baked potatoes which are wrapped in aluminium foil and cooked in the bonfire or its embers
Black peas with vinegar
Potato pie with pickled red cabbage

Check out DyingforChocolate.com for an easy recipe for Guy Fawkes Night Chocolate Sparklers

Guy Fawkes Crime Fiction

The Wrong Boy by Cathy Ace
Murder on  Bonfire Night by Margaret Addison
The Case of the Bonfire Body by Christopher Bush

The Burning Question by Carol Carnac

Murder in the Mews by Agatha Christie
The Powder Treason by Michael Dax
Gunpowder Plot by Carola Dunn

Plain Murder by C.S. Forester
Bryant & May and the Burning Man by Christopher Fowler
V is for Vendetta by Alan Moore
Guy Fawkes: Blod and Fire by Dominic Philpot

A Demon in My View by Ruth Rendell
Skelton's Guide to Blazing Corpses by David Stafford

The Desperate Remedy: Henry Gresham and the Gunpowder Plot by Martin Stephen
The Progress of a Crime by Julian Symons
A Fearsome Doubt by Charles Todd 
The Mystery of Mr. Mock (aka The Corpse with the Floating Foot) by R.A. J Walling

Short Stories:

"The Singular Case of the Bandaged Bobby" by Andrew McAleer, Mystery Magazine, September 2024.   
Gunpowder Plots, edited by Val McDermid
Any titles missing? Let me know, so I can add to the list.

SHAMUS AWARD WINNERS 2026: Private Eye Writers of America

I just realized I forgot to post the winners of the Shamus Awards. Here you go!

The Private Eye Writers of America announced the winners of the coveted Shamus Awards. Winners were announced last night at the 2026 Bouchercon Opening Ceremonies in Calgary, Canada. Congratulations to All!

BEST PI HARDCOVER

The Big Empty by Robert Crais

BEST ORIGINAL PI PAPERBACK

Where The Bones Lie by Nick Kolakowski 

BEST FIRST PI NOVEL

Midnight Streets by Phil Lecomer

BEST PI SHORT STORY

"The Roosevelt Affair" by Adam Meyer (Crimeucopia: Not So Frail Detective Agency: Rosie Perkins)

EXTENSION DEADLINE: Call for articles -Mysteries set in India-Mystery Readers Journal

DEADLINE EXTENSION: November 15, 2026

Call for Articles: Mystery Readers Journal: Mysteries set in India (42:4); Winter 2026

For our next issue, we are still accepting articles, reviews, and author essays about crime fiction set in India.

Author Essays:

If you have a mystery that fits this theme, please consider writing an Author! Author! essay: 500–1500 words, first person, up-close and personal about yourself, your books, and the theme connection. If you've read a mystery set in India, consider writing a short review or a longer article. 

Send submissions to janet @ mysteryreaders . org 

New Deadline: November 15, 2026. 

Author Essays are first person, about yourself, your books, and the "India" connection. 500-1000 words. Treat this as if you're chatting with friends and other writers in the bar or cafe (or on zoom) about your work and India in your mysteries. Be sure and cite specific titles, as well as how you use France in your books. Add title and 2-3 sentence bio. 

Reviews: 50-250 words. 

Articles: 500-1000 words. 

Deadline: November 15, 2026  

Send to: Janet Rudolph, Editor. janet @ mysteryreaders . org  

Subject Line:  Mysteries set in India.

Please let me know if you're planning to send an article, review, or author essay--or if you have any questions! 

Subscribe to Mystery Readers Journal for 2026.

Themes in 2026: Fairs, Fetes, & Festivals; Mysteries set in France, Cross-Genre Mysteries; Mysteries set in India.

Many back issues available as PDF downloads. Here are just a few. 

Northern California Mysteries I: Mystery Readers Journal

Senior Sleuths: Mystery Readers Journal

Irish Mysteries: Mystery Readers Journal

Hobbies & Crafts in Mysteries: Mystery Readers Journal

Mysteries set in France: Mystery Readers Journal

Art Mysteries: Mystery Readers Journal

And so many more... We are now in our 42nd year. 4 themed issues a year! 

Have a look at our index of fabulous issues with articles, reviews, and essays from your favorite authors and reviewers. 

***

DAY OF THE DEAD CRIME FICTION

What holiday could be more fitting to Crime Fiction than El Dia de los Muertos: Day of the Dead? 

Día de los Muertos is celebrated every year on November 1st and 2nd. On these days, it is believed that the souls of the dead return to visit their living family members. Many people celebrate the holiday by visiting the graves of deceased loved ones and setting up altars with their favorite foods, drink, and photos.

Here's my updated list of Day of the Dead Crime Fiction. Be sure and check my Halloween Crime Fiction list for other mysteries that start on Halloween and include Day of the Dead. I've also added a short list of Day of the Dead episodes on some popular TV series, as well as some of my favorite Day of the Dead movies!

And, on a personal note, several years ago I was mugged in a cemetery in Havana, Cuba, on Day of the Dead. I was alone (I was young and dumb). However, it seemed like an appropriate day and place.

Let me know if I'm missing any titles/authors.

Day of the Dead Crime Fiction

Day of the Day by Victoria A. Brownworth

Day of the Dead by R. Allen Chappell

The Day of the Dead by John Creed
The Day of the Dead: The Autumn of Commissioner Ricciardi by Maurizio de Giovanni

Trick or Treason by Kathi Daley
Catering to the Dead by Kim Davis

Deadly Diamonds by M.M. Deluca

Day of the Dead by Brenda Donelan

A Cemetery, a Cannibal, and the Day of the Dead by CC Dragon 

Day of the Dead Mystery Movie by Raymond Embrack

Day of the Dead by Drew Golden

Days of the Dead by Barbara Hambly
Sugar Skull by Denise Hamilton
Dios De Los Muertos by Kent Harrington
The Wrong Goodbye by Chris Holm
Death Arts by Melanie Jackson
Day of the Dead by J.A. Jance
Depth of Winter by Craig Johnson
In Big Trouble by Laura Lippman

Devil's Kitchen by Clark Lohr
Weave Her Thread with Bones by Claudia Long
Day of the Dead by Manuel Luis Martinez
Hurrican Season by Fernanda Melchor

Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore

Day of the Dead: Armchair Mystery by Cromwell Murray (1946)

Bread of the Dead by Ann Myers

Day of the Dead by Mark Roberts 

Murder Marigolds & Mezcal by Greta Sinclair
The Day of the Dead by Bart Spicer

Mrs. Morris and the Day of the Dead by Traci Wilton

Children and YA:

Loulou and Pea and the Mural Mystery by Jill Diamond; Illustrations by Lesley Ramos

Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier  (Graphic Novel)

Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas

The Day of the Dead Mystery (The Boxcar Children Mysteries) by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Any titles missing?

***

Some Day of the Dead episodes on your favorite mystery TV series:

The Brokenwood Mysteries: Day of the Dead, Season 10, Episode 2.

Murder She Wrote: Day of the Dead, Season 8, Episode 19

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, Day of the Dead, Episode 10

Death in Paradise: Murder on the Day of the Dead, Series 7, Episode 5

Inspector Ricciardi: Il giorno de morti/The Day of the Dead, Season 1, Episode 4

Movies:

I love to watch Coco on The Day of the Dead. It's not a mystery, but it's a fantastic animated film featuring the holiday!!

The James Bond movie Spectre opens with a great take on Mexico's Day of the Dead! 

The Book of Life is another great animated film, that takes place on the Day of the Dead.

What are your favorites? Any titles missing?

 
 

Cartoon of the Day: The Halloween Report

Cartoon of the Day: Halloween